Award-winning music and mental health charity Listen Up Music is making its way back to Newcastle for the Songwriting Prize 2025.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, this year’s theme is ‘Growth’ — and with over $45,000 in prizes on offer, there’s never been a better time to share your story through song.
Newcastle will host one of eleven regional semi-finals between August and October, joining cities like Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in showcasing the country’s most promising songwriters.
The competition celebrates the art of songwriting over production polish, meaning both rough demos and fully-produced tracks are judged on their words, melody, and emotional impact.
For local creatives, this is an opportunity to step into the national spotlight. The winner of the Newcastle semi-final will have the chance to perform at the Grand Final, sharing the stage with some of Australia’s most exciting emerging talents.
Previous years have seen Grand Finalists land festival slots, recording deals, and long-term industry mentorship.
Newcastle’s music scene is known for its tight-knit community and raw talent, and with this year’s theme focused on personal and artistic evolution, local entries are expected to deliver powerful, reflective songs grounded in lived experience.
Whether written in a bedroom or a studio, the only requirement is that the song be original and created within the last year.
Prizes include top-of-the-line studio equipment from Sennheiser, recording packages, artist mentoring sessions, podcast interviews, and more.
The Grand Final winner will also earn a coveted spot in the Listen Up Music Spotlight Series, giving them a platform to reach broader audiences and gain industry traction.
Previous winners include Newcastle’s own Chloe Gill, who took first place in 2023 with her song Circulated Fantasies.
Entries are open now and close Friday, 30 May 2025. Local songwriters eager to represent Newcastle and share their personal stories of growth can apply online via The Songwriting Prize website.
